Page 4 of Ever Dark Academy, Vol. 7

He thought he saw a falcon reflected in them. Grayson kissed along his taut pectorals, heading to the other nipple. His mouth suctioned around the second hard nub. His stomach burned with hunger. As he ran his tongue along the soft flesh, his fangs ached. His veins felt hollow.

Ryder really is feeding for two. Maybe more. My hunger is greater than I thought.

But it made sense. Artemis had drained him far more than was necessary for the turning. The Kaly Vampire had wanted him to be weak and needy. Artemis would have likely kept him starving so that he would need to do whatever Artemis asked of him.

Ryder will never deny me. Which means I must be the one careful with him.

Grayson drew in large mouthfuls of blood. It was like liquid heat flowing down his throat and spreading out to every molecule of his being. The fire in his chest that had been banked coals burst into burning life. In his mind’s eye the amount of fire he could hold was much larger than before.

Big enough for three fires?

He released the tender nub. Ryder groaned.

“Feed, my love. No more teasing. I can feel your hunger,” Ryder insisted.

“Yes, yes, I know, but I need to taste more of you first. I cannot stop,” Grayson said.

“Grayson,” Ryder begged.

“Trust me.”

Grayson kissed up his chest, lingering at the hollow at the base of his throat, licking that space, mapping it with his tongue. Salt. Sweet. Spicy. Musk. Indescribable tastes. His cock was hot and aching. His whole body thrummed. He heard the sound of wings all around them. Or was that the waves?

He was at Ryder’s throat. He swallowed almost convulsively as saliva filled his mouth. The hunger for Ryder was like a beat in his heart. He kissed along Ryder’s neck, up to his jaw, then back down again until he reached the pulse point there. His heartbeat matched Ryder’s.

“Feed, my beloved,” Ryder breathed.

His hands curled around Grayson’s back. They smoothed over his spine. Up and down. Gentle, but firm. Their bare chests were pressed together. His own nipples peaked as he moved against Ryder’s front.

His fangs were sinking into that pulse point. The throb of that heartbeat. His heartbeat. Ryder’s heartbeat. They were one and the same. Their bodies moved together. Ryder’s hands ran down his arms and they linked hands. Ryder brought one of those clasped hands to his lips and he was kissing it. Kissing and kissing and kissing.

Heat and friction and the sweetness of shared blood. Crimson like the sun as it set beneath the horizon. Crimson like the roses that bloomed in the night in the Ever Dark. Crimson as the connections between them and the land and the creatures and the other Immortals and the Vampires they created. And to Daemon.

He saw black feathers bursting every. Dancing in the wind all around them. Swirling. He let out a caw! Then he settled on two little feet–claws–on Ryder’s chest. Ryder was staring at him. Grayson tilted his head to the side to look at him. It was strangely odd to look straight ahead. And his vision was almost telescopic and–

“Grayson!” Ryder laughed delightedly as he gently picked Grayson up–how could he do that?--with one hand and let Grayson perch on his forearm. “You really are an overachiever, aren’t you, my beloved?”

What?

“Caw!”

I don’t understand! What’s happening here?

“Caw! Caw! Caw!”

Ryder gently brushed his fingers over Grayson’s–feathery–chest and scratched under his chin–beak–while looking at him so lovingly.

“You shifted, my beloved. Your first drink and your first shift,” Ryder explained.

I–I shifted?

Grayson looked down at his feet. They were bird feet. Little black bird feet. He rustled his feathers. He looked back up at Ryder.

I’m a raven!

“Yes, my beloved, you are!” Ryder kissed the top of his feathery head. “I guess I should be glad that your first form is a bird. You could have turned into something like a stag and that would have been hard on my chest.”

I’m a raven! I did it! Without realizing… Oh, then we could fly together. Ryder, let’s go flying. Just for a little bit!